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Christmas Tree Worm
Spirobranchus giganteus
2.44415, 104.525
Field Notes
Description:
The worms's most distinct features are the two "crowns" that are shaped like Christmas-trees. These "crowns" are actually highly modified prostomial palps which are specialized mouth appendages of the worm. Each spiral is composed of feather-like tentacles called radioles, which are heavily ciliated this allows any prey that are trapped in them to be transported straight towards the worm's mouth!
Habitat:
Christmas-tree worms are widely distributed throughout the world's tropical oceans. They have been known to occur from the Caribbean to the Indo-Pacific.
Notes:
Spotted on a dive trip of an Island in Malaysia.
Species ID Suggestions
Spotted for Missions
Photographed
PublishedOctober 25, 2011
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